nark

Definitions

Law

noun a person, often a criminal, who gives information about other criminals to the police

Slang

verb to inform on, betray. From the noun nark.

verb to stop or to keep quiet. This cockney usage invariably occurred in the command ‘nark it!’.

verb to annoy or affront; to needle. This expression, which was particularly popular in the 1950s and which is also heard in Australia, is derived ultimately from the Romany word nak, meaning nose. Nark in its modern sense is semantically related to such expressions as ‘to have one’s nose put out of joint’, to get up one’s nose, or ‘poke one’s nose in’. It is often heard in the form of its past participle, narked, meaning annoyed or affronted.